No home for homeless

By Melissa Grant
CIVIC leaders have again quashed plans for a hostel in Dunbarton Drive to house 17 homeless men, despite support from two prominent Pakenham welfare groups.
4Cs and Big House Communities had backed the proposal, however some residents were concerned about the effects the boarding house would have on their neighbourhood.
Four out of seven councillors voted against a plan to expand the hostel to accommodate another 10 men, deeming its site and design as inappropriate.
But victory for those councillors and neighbouring residents may be short-lived, with the Victorian and Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) set to hear the owner’s first application to expand the premises on 26 March.
Central Ward councillor Brett Owen, who also voted against a similar proposal in September, said the boarding house was too far away from the township and had inadequate parking.
“I fully agree that there are serious issues in relation to housing in Pakenham,” he said.
“(But) we can’t go away from the fact it needs to be in the right location.
“The nearest retail facilities are 1.4km away and it’s 2.5km from the Pakenham township… it’s not a convenient walking distance.”
But Councillor Graeme Legge, who unsuccessfully moved an alternate motion in support of the proposal, said while the location wasn’t ideal there were shops nearby and a bus stop within 400m.
He said the permit would be subject to a number of conditions and would provide much-needed accommodation for homeless people in Pakenham.
Mayor Bill Pearson agreed.
“This will be the first reasonable size boarding house for men in Pakenham and it’s a service that’s needed,” he said.
4Cs co-ordinator Jeni Mathieson said there were about 60 people living on Pakenham’s streets each month and it was disappointing that councillors had voted down the proposal.
“I know the council has its reasons … but I’m coming from the welfare side of things and there are a lot of homeless men – where are they going to go?”
“For me, they (boarding house owners) have housed seven guys who have a bed and access to a shower.”
Nine nearby residents had formally objected to the proposal, citing concerns about safety, noise pollution and potential decrease in property value.
Last year, 58 objections were made and 283 signed a petition against a similar plan.
Central Ward Councillor Collin Ross, who voted against the proposal, said most of the residents’ concerns hadn’t been met by the new application.